For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Police committee wants investigation into Mkhwanazi’s Saps allegations; Home Affairs extends weekday operating hours until July 21; And, Trump sets August 1 start for tariffs ahead of Wednesday deadline

Police committee wants investigation into Mkhwanazi’s Saps allegations

The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to outline a process to investigate the explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, to restore the credibility of the South African Police Service.

During a media briefing over the weekend, Mkhwanazi made allegations of corruption, political interference, and malfeasance, specifically accusing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of unilaterally disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and redirecting 121 active investigation dockets to the office of National Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, where they have allegedly been neutralised.

Chairperson of the portfolio committee Ian Cameron viewed these allegations as serious, noting that they required urgent attention from the President.

He said the allegations, if correct, have far-reaching implications on the effectiveness of the South African Police Service and require immediate attention.

The chairperson highlighted that the allegations are noteworthy because they have been made by such a senior-ranking officer within the Saps.

Ramaphosa has said the matter is of “grave national security concern” and that it is receiving the highest priority attention.

Home Affairs extends weekday operating hours until July 21

The Department of Home Affairs has, from today, extended its operating hours on weekdays, to assist learners applying for and collecting their identification documents during the school holidays.

The department’s offices has extended its weekday closing time from 16:00 to 18:00, until July 21.

Dedicated counters have also been allocated for collections in large offices that process Smart ID Cards and passports.

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber urged all clients who have applied for their IDs and who have been waiting for three weeks or more, to collect these critical documents.

And, Trump sets August 1 start for tariffs ahead of Wednesday deadline

US President Donald Trump plans to announce trade deals and deliver tariff warnings on Monday, as countries negotiated through the weekend to avoid the highest punitive measures on their exports to the US before a Wednesday deadline.

The time line for the talks appeared to be reset after US officials signalled that trading partners will have until August 1 before the tariffs kick in. That gives them the option of three more weeks for deal-making.

For weeks, the administration warned that Trump would impose levies on July 9 for countries failing to secure an accord, reverting to the levels announced on so-called Liberation Day on April 2.

The European Union said that progress has been made toward securing a deal and that the bloc is still working toward the Wednesday deadline. Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke on Sunday and had a “good exchange,” a spokesperson for the EU’s executive arm said today in Brussels.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA